Concordia St. Paul News

Enrollment at Concordia University, St. Paul has grown for the fourth consecutive year as the university announced an all-time record headcount of 4,380 students for the Fall 2015 semester. This total includes full and part time students enrolled in Concordia’s traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and graduate programs.

This year’s data continues Concordia’s trend of positive enrollment gains as it has recorded increases nine of the last ten years. Since 2005 CSP has seen its enrollment more than double as it has added 2,311 students, a nearly 112 percent increase.

Overall enrollment is up 323 from a year ago when it surpassed 4,000 students for the first time. Breaking enrollment down by program area, there are 1,421 students enrolled in traditional undergraduate programs, 1,146 in adult undergraduate programs (evening/online) and 1,813 in graduate/doctoral programs at Concordia. All three degree-offering program areas saw increases from a year ago.

“The consistent increases in enrollment we’ve experienced over the last few years are certainly due to a number of factors,” said Concordia University President Dr. Tom Ries. “We have a growing reputation for academic quality that’s being spread by word of mouth and through social media, we have successfully launched a number of new and relevant academic programs, and our pricing strategy is attractive to the consumer.”

The steady uptick in enrollment has benefitted many of Concordia’s programs, with a number posting significant growth since 2013. The College of Business & Technology for example has notched increases in most of its degree offerings, including a gain of 42 declared majors in its Business Management degree (B.A.) compared to 2014. The B.A. degrees in both Finance and Accounting also saw healthy boosts over the same time period of 20 or more students.

Dean of the College of Business & Technology Dr. Kevin Hall attributes the growth to a number of variables, including strong faculty, relevant programing and affordable tuition.

“Our faculty really care for each of our students in real ways that help students succeed in the classroom, as people, and as future professionals,” Hall said. “Concordia’s commitment to containing the cost of a degree is also resonating well with students and their families which has helped bring students to our campus who may have not considered enrolling here just a few years ago.”

Additional program offerings the last couple years have also contributed to Concordia’s enrollment increase as the university has introduced its first two doctoral programs (Doctor of Education and Doctor of Physical Therapy) as well as degrees in the emerging nursing and computer science fields.